Structure for the storage of objects



June 5, 1962 s. PETIT 3,037,646

STRUCTURE FOR THE STORAGE 0F OBJECTS Filed Jan. 2o, 1960 2 sheets-sheet1 June 5, 1962 s. PETIT 3,037,646

STRUCTURE FOR THE: STORAGE OF OBJECTS Filed Jan. 2O, 1960 2 sheets-sheet2 s er:

3,037,646 Patented June 5, 1962 3,037,646 STRUCTURE FOR THE STORAGE FOBJECTS Simon Petit, 86 Rue Mallar, Verviers, Belgium Filed Jan. 20,1960, Ser. No. 3,638 Claims priority, application Belgium Jan. 27, 19597 Claims. (Cl. 214-16.4)

Hitherto for the storing of terrestrial devices such, in particular, asmotor vehicles and motor cycles and aerial devices, such as aircraft,use has -been made of types and designs 4of the most diverse kind.

In connection with constructions serving as garages for vehicles, thereare known, for example, those which are equipped with access rampsallo-wing a driver to reach one or another of the levels where he canpark his vehicle according to the space which is at his disposition. Thenumber of levels in this type `of construction is ordinarily fairlyrestricted as it is advantageous to avoid an excessively long rise;consequently, if such garages are to be of large capacity, the buildingmust cover as large a ground area as possible, which is not easy toachieve in the centre of towns where, moreover, ground is expensive.

Multi-level garages are also known in which the vehicle is elevated by alift to the le'vel at which it is to be parked.

The constructions which have so far been mooted for the garaging ofmotor vehicles do not give complete satisfaction, either because theircost price is too high or because it is d iflicult to find at theappropriate place a building plot on which a sufliciently large andproductive structure can be built or because existing types require fortheir exploitation a large personnel and an expensive installation ifthey rare to be made automatic.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure which issuitable for the storage of land or aerial devices and which does notrequire a large constructional area at ground level but which can housea large number of devices which can be easily and selectively sheltered.

In accordance with the invention, a structure is provided whichcomprises -a xed central guide tower surrounded by a helical element forsupporting the devices to be stored. Coupled to the hel-ical element ismeans for rotating the same to axially move it in opposite directions.An access platform is positioned perpendicular to said tower andadjacent the helical element to provide access thereto as said elementis axially moved. The platform is preferably situated lat ground levelbeneath which 4is disposed the base of the central tower which isadvantageously hollow and contains an elevator leading from the base toa resistant flat roof which caps the structure.

ln one particular form of construction, the lower part of the tower,which is beneath ground level, is in Ka pit in which the entire helicalelement can be accommodated and thus provide protection for all thedevices on the helical element.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the pitch of thehelical element is slightly greater than t-he height of the devicesbeing stored. Additionally, the helical element is provided withsupporting and guiding rollers, and is arranged for displacement alongthe guiding tower under the action of driving pinions meshing with ahelical rack. Motors for driving the pinions can be disposed either inthe outer periphery lwall of the pit or in the stationary central tower.

The invention Iwill be more easily understood from the followingdescription of the accompanying drawings which -elate purely by way ofillustration to one form of construction.

FIG. l is an axial longitudinal section of an embodiment according tothe invention taken on the line II-II shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the embodiment and is shown partly inperspective and partly in section.

From the drawings it will be seen that beneath the ground level 1, thereis a cylindrical pit 2a, defined by side wall 2 and base 3, both ofwhich are massive to provide ladequate reinforcing.

A hollow vertical column 4 is erected on base 3 within which isinstalled an elevator (not shown). The column is surmounted with a fiatroof 5, 'the size and strength `of which can be such as to permit thehelicopter to land thereon and take off therefrom. A hole is provided inthe fiat roof which is closed `by a removable cover 6 which providesaccess to a ladder 7 and thence to the elevator within the column.

On `and around the column 4 is a helical element 8 constructed so thatit can carry land devices such as, for example, motor cars. Element 8 isin the form of a helical ring defining a continuous helical space. Thehelical ring can be maintained in position by stiffening uprights 9. Theexternal diameter of the helical element is chosen in accordance withthe desired capacity of the structure and such that the slope of thehelical element may not be too great. Furthermore, the pitch of thehelix is selected to `accommodate the height of the stored devices.

The helical element 8 is provided at its end face with a rack 10, havingteeth which mesh with driving pinions 11 which are driven by motors 12..

In operation of the device, the helical element S rotates about thecolumn 4 upwardly o-r downwardly to position the suitable portion of thehelical element in front of the platform 13 through which the -deviceesto be stored are supplied or delivered. The element 8 can ybe completelyhoused in the pit 2a where it is protected. The column 4 serves both asa support and as a guide for the helical element 8. To that effect,column `4 is provided on its outer face with a roller and guiding tnack14, on which ybear rollers 15 mounted on the lower face of the element 8adjacent its inside edge 3a.

It should be noted that the structure which has just been described canhave a large capacity with a relatively small ground area, 'and by theuse of constructional expedients it can, of course, be made to have afairly large number of turns. Another advantage of this type yofstructure is that it makes it easy to provide for automatic operation.Further, if this type of structure is used for the storage of aircraftand other aerial devices, ift is possible, by maintaining the element 8below ground level, to protect the devices which it carries.

The invention is not limited to the form of construction which has beendescribed for the storing of motor vehicles but, according to need, itcan be applied to a structure for the storage of industrial andagricultural products of all kinds. It can be used, for example, for theselective storing of books, furnitu-re, spare parts, and other likeapparatus.

What I claim is:

l. A structure for storing objects comprising a fixed elongated tower, ahelical element for storing said objects there-on and surrounding saidtower, said helical ele-ment being substantially perpendicular to thetower, -an `access platform intermediate the ends of the fixed tower,said access platform being also substantially perpendicular to saidfixed tower and adapted for being coextensive with said helical elementto permit access thereto and means for rotating the helical element toaxially move the same in opposite directions to operatively position thehelical element relative to said access platform to provide said access,said means comprising la rack on the helical element, a pinion engagingsaid rack in driving relation, drive means connected to said pinion fordriving the same, rollers on said helical element and a guide track onsaid tower, said rollers being in said guide track and movable therein.

2. A structure as claimed in claim l further comprising means defining apit encircling said tower below the access platform, said helicalelement being advanceable into said pit,

3. A structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pit is locatedunderground.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rack is helical and ispositioned adjacent the edge of the helical element.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein said access platform is atground level.

6. A structure as claimed in claim l further compris-4 ing a at roof onsaid tower.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein said helical element andsaid pit are of substantially equal length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS973,921 Dodge Oct. 25, 1910 1,303,978 Smith May 20, 1919 2,788,140Becker Apr. 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 807,933 France Jan. 25, 1937 833,624Germany Mar. l0, 1952

